Bump: How OL Josh Jones fits with the Seahawks

Things have quieted down for the Seattle Seahawks since they reportedly agreed to terms on a contract with quarterback Sam Darnold, but there was one additional free agent signing made by the team.

The Seahawks agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $4.75 million with offensive lineman Josh Jones, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Monday night.

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Jones spent last season as a backup lineman with the Baltimore Ravens. He logged just 46 offensive snaps all season, with 18 of those coming at tight end as a sixth lineman in heavy packages.

During his Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus shared his thoughts on the role Jones will play in Seattle.

“He was the guy who was brought in like a George Fant type of guy,” Bumpus said. “He’s gonna report as (an) eligible (sixth lineman), be attached to the offensive line. (The Ravens) used him a lot on the backside of zone (runs). He was just a guy that I look at and I think he still needs some development. He still needs some work. But Kubiak in this offense with his coaches, they’re going to pride themselves on developing. So this is a depth move.”

Fant, who the Seahawks signed to a two-year deal to be their backup offensive tackle and insurance for starter Abraham Lucas last offseason, was released by the Seahawks last week. Coincidentally, Jones was Fant’s backup with the Houston Texas in 2023.

The 27-year-old Jones has mainly played tackle throughout his five-year pro career, but he also has some experience guard. The University of Houston product was a third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.

While Jones played sparingly in Baltimore last season, he did get plenty of playing time during his three years with the Cardinals.

In 2021, Jones made 12 starts and played 852 offensive snaps, with 612 of those coming at right guard. However, he committed 12 penalties, allowed 29 pressures and ranked near the bottom among offensive linemen with a 46.7 Pro Football Focus grade.

Jones seemed to turn the corner in 2022 while moving into a starting role at left tackle for nine games. He still committed nine penalties and allowed 27 pressures, but finished the year with a much-improved 75.8 PFF grade, which ranked 18th among tackles.

But the Cardinals traded Jones to the Houston Texans prior in August of 2023, and he made just three starts while primarily serving as a backup to Fant and five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil.

Jones signed a one-year deal with Baltimore prior to the 2024 season.

“You see some of the potential there, but when you’re only getting 46 snaps in a season, that means that you were the second or third man up,” Bumpus said. “That offensive line with the Ravens we know is one of the better ones in the game. There’s some work for him to do.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More Seattle Seahawks news and analysis

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• Bump & Stacy: Why Seattle Seahawks are in a ‘retool,’ not a rebuild
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